Analysis
11/30/21
9 min read
Domo's Week 12 NFL Power Rankings: Turmoil in the NFC West
After calling it a career after 45 years of sports writing — including 36 Super Bowls covered — former Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Paul Domowitch is bringing his weekly power rankings to the 33rd Team. Here he gives us the skinny on the good news and bad news that each NFL team is dealing with.
1) Cardinals (9-2) Previous: 1
Last week: Bye
This week: at 4-7 Bears
Good news: Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, who both have missed the last three games with injuries, are expected to return this week.
Bad news: The run defense, which has allowed 4.7 yards per carry this season, remains a bit of a concern. The Cardinals gave up 151 rushing yards in their Week 8 loss to the Packers and 166 in their Week 10 loss to the Panthers.
2) Bucs (8-3) Previous: 2
Last week: W38-31@IND
This week: at 5-6 Falcons
Good news: Leonard Fournette, who was held to 108 yards and 2.8 yards per carry in the previous three games, found his groove against the Colts, rushing for 100 yards and 3 TDs.
Bad news: Pass defense continues to be inconsistent. Carson Wentz was the seventh QB to throw multiple TD passes v. Bucs.
3) Packers (9-3) Previous: 3
Last week: W36-28LAR
This week: Bye
Good news: Even with an injured toe, Aaron Rodgers still is one of the best QBs in the league.
Bad news: PK Mason Crosby has been erratic. He’s made just 11 of 20 FG attempts from 30-plus yards.
4) Patriots (8-4) Previous: 5
Last week: W36-13TEN
This week: at 7-4 Bills
Good news: They’ve won six in a row and have given up a total of 63 points in those six wins.
Bad news: Gave up 270 rushing yards to the Titans.
5) Chiefs (7-4) Previous: 6
Last week: Bye
This week: v. 6-5 Broncos
Good news: The Chiefs defense is firing on all cylinders. They’ve given up just 47 points in the team’s four-game win streak.
Bad news: Andy Reid’s offense is averaging its fewest points (25.5) since 2016 (24.3).
6) Bills (7-4) Previous: 9
Last week: W31-6@NO
This week: v. 8-4 Patriots
Good news: After losing three of five, someone wisely reminded offensive coordinator Brian Daboll that it’s still OK to run the ball in the NFL.
Bad news: The Bills have two games against the red-hot Patriots in the next four weeks, with a game against Tom Brady and the Bucs sandwiched in there.
7) Ravens (8-3) Previous: 10
Last week: W16-10CLE
This week: at 5-5-1 Steelers
Good news: Lamar Jackson is tied for fifth in rushing first downs with 44 and is on pace to rush for 1,131 yards.
Bad news: Jackson has thrown nine interceptions in the last five games, including four Sunday, and has been sacked 17 times in those five games.
8) 49ers (6-5) Previous: 14
Last week: W34-26MIN
This week: at 3-8 Seahawks
Good news: Kyle Shanahan’s offense has regained its equilibrium. They’ve had a 63.4 run-play percentage during their three-game win streak.
Bad news: One of the keys to Shanahan’s offense, Deebo Samuel, suffered a groin injury v. Vikings and could miss some time.
9) Bengals (7-4) Previous: 15
Last week: W41-10PIT
This week: v. 7-4 Chargers
Good news: The Bengals have won four of their last six games and have averaged 32.5 points in those six games.
Bad news: Joe Burrow’s 12 interceptions are the second most in the league.
10) Titans (8-4) Previous: 4
Last week: L13-36@NE
This week: Bye
Good news: Even after losing two in a row, the Titans still have a seemingly comfy two-game lead over the Colts in the AFC South.
Bad news: Surprise, surprise. Ryan Tannehill hasn’t been nearly as good without Derrick Henry as he was with him. His passer rating with Henry was 90.2. His passer rating without him: 73.3.
11) Cowboys (7-4) Previous: 7
Last week: L33-36LVR
This week: at 5-6 Saints
Good news: The Cowboys should be getting WRs Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb back this week, which will give the offense a huge boost.
Bad news: Ezekiel Elliott, who is battling a knee injury, hasn’t rushed for more than 51 yards since Week 6.
12) Rams (7-4) Previous: 8
Last week: L28-36@GB
This week: v. 2-9 Jaguars
Good news: It’s Jaguar week!
Bad news: Matt Stafford has given up a pick-six in each of the Rams’ three straight losses.
13) Vikings (5-6) Previous: 11
Last week: L26-34@SF
This week: at 0-10-1 Lions
Good news: The Vikings’ next three games are against the winless Lions, the slumping 5-5-1 Steelers and the 4-7 Bears.
Bad news: The Vikings’ leading rusher, Dalvin Cook, was carted off the field with a shoulder injury Sunday.
14) Colts (6-6) Previous: 12
Last week: L31-38TB
This week: at 2-9 Texans
Good news: Carson Wentz had his third three-TD performance in the last five games.
Bad news: They blew an opportunity to move within one-game of the first-place Titans in the AFC South, turning the ball over five times v. Bucs.
15) Raiders (6-5) Previous: 19
Last week: W36-33@DAL
This week: v. 5-6 Washington
Good news: Thirty-four-year-old DeSean Jackson, who had a 56-yard TD catch v. Cowboys, gives Derek Carr the deep threat he lost when Henry Ruggs was released.
Bad news: The Raiders have the league’s fifth worst third-down success rate (34.4). Derek Carr has five interceptions and has been sacked 10 times on third down.
16) Broncos (6-5) Previous: 18
Last week: W28-13LAC
This week: at 7-4 Chiefs
Good news: Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams combined for 137 rushing yards against the Chargers’ weak run defense.
Bad news: Teddy Bridgewater has just three touchdown passes in the last four games.
17) Chargers (6-5) Previous: 13
Last week: L13-28@DEN
This week: at 7-4 Bengals
Good news: RB Austin Ekeler has 1,077 yards from scrimmage.
Bad news: Chargers have lost four of their last six games and have the red-hot Bengals next.
18) Washington (5-6) Previous: 22
Last week: W17-15SEA
This week: at 6-5 Raiders
Good news: Antonio Gibson notched his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season against the Seahawks.
Bad news: Washington has the worst third-down defense in the league (51.4.)
19) Dolphins (5-7) Previous: 28
Last week: W33-10CAR
This week: v. 4-7 Giants
Good news: Tua Tagovailoa has completed 84.4 percent of his attempts in the Dolphins’ last two games.
Bad news: Dolphins averaged just 2.8 yards per carry against Carolina.
20) Eagles (5-7) Previous: 16
Last week: L7-13@NYG
This week: at 3-8 Jets
Good news: They have averaged a league-best 215.6 rushing yards in their last five games.
Bad news: Jalen Hurts’ 17.5 passer rating v. Giants was the second lowest of the weekend (see: Newton, Cam)
21) Saints (5-6) Previous: 17
Last week: L6-31BUF
This week: v. 7-4 Cowboys
Good news: The Saints sent Alvin Kamara to Lourdes over free weekend to hasten the healing of his injured knee. No, not really.
Bad news: Drew Brees retired and he’s not coming back.
22) Browns (6-6) Previous: 21
Last week: L10-16@BAL
This week: Bye
Good news: The defense has held five of its last six opponents to 16 points or less.
Bad news: The offense is a hot mess. Browns have scored 30 points in the last three games and banged-up Baker Mayfield is performing much better in his TV commercials than he is on the field.
23) Bears (4-7) Previous: 24
Last week: W16-14@DET
This week: v. 9-2 Cardinals
Good news: Cairo Santos’ 28-yard walk-off field goal snapped a five-game Bears losing streak.
Bad news: They’ll likely be starting a new losing streak this week against the Cardinals.
24) Giants (4-7) Previous: 26
Last week: W13-7PHI
This week: at 5-7 Dolphins
Good news: The defense has 15 takeaways in the last seven games, including four v. Eagles.
Bad news: The Giants have the league’s worst red-zone offense. They’ve converted just 10 of 30 red-zone opportunities into touchdowns (33.3%).
25) Steelers (5-5-1) Previous: 20
Last week: L10-41@CIN
This week: v. 8-3 Ravens
Good news: Ben Roethlisberger has thrown interceptions in just four of his 10 starts.
Bad news: Steelers have averaged 3.2 yards per carry in back-to-back losses to the Bengals and Chargers.
26) Falcons (5-6) Previous: 25
Last week: W21-14@JAX
This week: v. 8-3 Bucs
Good news: They had a season-high 149 rushing yards v. Jaguars, including Cordarrelle Patterson’s first career 100-yard rushing game (108).
Bad news: The Bucs are up next.
27) Panthers (5-7) Previous: 23
Last week: L10-33@MIA
This week: Bye
Good news: After losing seven of their last nine, the bye week is badly needed.
Bad news: Cam Newton completed just 5 of 21 passes and threw two interceptions against the Dolphins.
28) Jets (3-8) Previous: 32
Last week: W21-14@HOU
This week: v. 5-7 Eagles
Good news: They rushed for a season-high 157 yards against Houston.
Bad news: Zach Wilson’s return didn’t offer much reason for optimism. He completed just 58.3% of his passes and didn’t have a TD. But at least he didn’t get hurt again.
29) Seahawks (3-8) Previous: 27
Last week: L15-17@WAS
This week: v. 6-5 49ers
Good news: The lines are really short at the Space Needle this time of year.
Bad news: They’re not even going to have a high first-round pick to soften the blow of this disastrous season, having traded it to the Jets for safety Jamal Adams.
30) Texans (2-9) Previous: 29
Last week: L14-21NYJ
This week: v. 6-6 Colts
Good news: Right now, they would have the second pick in the draft.
Bad news: They are averaging a league-worst 14.9 points per game.
31) Lions (0-10-1) Previous: 30
Last week: L14-16CHI
This week: v. 5-6 Vikings
Good news: They’ve lost four games by three points or less.
Bad news: They scored just 14 points against the Bears even though Jared Goff completed 21 of 25 passes.
32) Jaguars (2-9) Previous: 31
Last week: L14-21ATL
This week: at 7-4 Rams
Good news: Urban Meyer didn’t take the USC or LSU jobs.
Bad news: Urban Meyer didn’t take the USC or LSU jobs.
